May 31, 2005
We heard you – loud and clear
by Marg Simmons, Chair, Central/Unified Bargaining Team
In meetings across the province over the last two weeks, you told us you weren’t prepared to accept takeaways and wanted us to move forward. You also said you want us to bargain a fair and reasonable deal. Please know that we heard you loud and clear.
Thank you for your support and understanding. Thanks to your rejection of the employer’s offer last week, we are back at the bargaining table. Our first meeting was Monday afternoon, May 30.
As we continue our work at the table, please continue yours in your communities. Continue workplace actions and call, write and fax your local Liberal MPPs. Only the politicians can push the bureaucrats at the table towards a fair and reasonable settlement.
Stay tuned for further updates – especially the planned “road trip” to Ottawa for June 11.
Cease discussions on essential services
Worksite managers have been approaching local representatives to meet with them to discuss the eligibility lists for Essential and Emergency Services. We have been notified by some locals that the employer in certain locations has attempted to bargain fundamental changes to essential and emergency service agreements with
those locals.
The union has responded to this illegal action by filing a complaint at the Ontario Labour Relations Board. We have asked for a hearing on this issue as soon as possible.
In the meantime, to avoid prejudicing the union’s position on this matter, we are advising all locals to cease immediately any discussions regarding eligibility lists with their respective management counterparts, until further notice. We thank all locals for their cooperation.
Strong rejection vote by Corrections Bargaining Unit members
by Barry Scanlon, Chair, Corrections Bargaining Team
As in previous rounds of bargaining, Corrections Bargaining Unit members have again showed solid support for the bargaining team by emphatically rejecting the employer’s offer.
We received the strong rejection vote we need to go back to the table to bring a good contract offer home. We would like to thank members who again have demonstrated their trust and support for the team.
The Corrections Bargaining Team will work diligently on your behalf to live up to the trust you have shown in us.
New strategy means no vote details released
Since the last round of bargaining in 2002 OPSEU Ontario Public Service members and local leaders have demanded that we approach bargaining and essential services in a different way. We have listened and we have acted.
For example, most members know that we have negotiated job functions into essential services agreements this round. This action on our part was in response to numerous concerns raised during the 2002 strike/lockout.
In addition to essential services changes, we are changing the approach to bargaining issues. Part of that strategy includes keeping the employer from gaining information that might help the employer in bargaining. All members of our Unified and Corrections Bargaining Team have agreed that no vote result details on this offer
will be released. We thank you for your support on this issue.
Your OPSEU OPS bargaining teams
Central/Unified team:
Marg Simmons (Chair), Central Enforcement and
Renewal Committee
Linda Thibert, OPSEU Region 1
Doug Peebles, Region 2
Kathleen Demareski, Region 3
Rhéal Delaquis, Region 4
Paul Myers, Region 5
Eric Morin (Vice-Chair), Region 6
John Watson, Region 7
Bob Houston, Administrative category
Brian Chauvin, Corrections
Carl Thibodeau, Institutional & Health Care
Sandra Noad, Office Administration
Beth Anich, Office Administration
Ken Fraser, Technical/Operational & Maintenance
Moira Cowan, Unclassified members
centralubu@bellnet.ca
unclassified@bellnet.ca
Corrections team:
Jack Hopkins, OPSEU Region 1
Barry Scanlon (Chair), Region 2
Glenna Caldwell, Region 3
Robert Curran (Vice-Chair), Region 4
Dave Graves, Region 5
Joe Wright, Region 6
Len Mason, Region 7
corrections@bellnet.ca
The Source is your only accurate source of Central and Corrections bargaining team information. Do not rely on gossip and rumours. We will provide the facts. Your editors are Len Mason, Beth Anich and Moira Cowan. The Source is authorized for distribution by Barry Scanlon, chair,
Corrections Team, Marg Simmons, chair, Central Bargaining Team and Leah Casselman, president.
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